Everyone says the U.S. needs missile-tracking sensors in space, but will the DoD make it happen? “On National Security” appears in every issue of SpaceNews magazine. This column ran in the March 12, 2018 issue. The hand-wringing continues at the Pentagon over how to respond to Chinese and Russian missile advances. The latest line of thinking is that the U.S. needs more sophisticated and more discriminating sensors that can fill in blind spots in current air and missile defense systems. And that the best approach would be to place those sensors on…

WASHINGTON — Orbital ATK announced March 13 it is developing a new version of a satellite life extension vehicle intended to provide more flexibility to customers while also moving the company closer to more advanced in-space servicing. During a presentation at the Satellite 2018 conference here, company executives announced plans to develop the Mission Robotic Vehicle and Mission Extension Pods, which would handle stationkeeping for geostationary satellites that are running out of fuel. The new systems are based on the Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV), a satellite life extension vehicle that…

WASHINGTON — After steering Sea Launch into the hands of a new owner, chief executive Sergey Gugkaev will leave the company to look for a new role elsewhere in the space industry. Gugkaev has been CEO of Sea Launch since 2012, and oversaw the company’s attempt to reestablish itself after emerging from bankruptcy only two years earlier. Switzerland-based Sea Launch struggled to regain traction in the commercial market despite launching five times in 14 months between late 2011 and December 2012. A 2013 failure that destroyed a $400 million Intelsat…

As part of US President Donald Trump’s massive $716billion national security budget for next year, some $66million has been set aside to build remote-controlled robots capable of destroying enemy rockets. Military commanders say the new weaponry has the potential to be a “game changer” in the theatre of missile defence. Making the case for funding, the US Missile Defence Agency (MDA) said: “Recent escalation of the threat from North Korea has demonstrated an advanced and accelerated capability. “North Korea is committed to developing a long-range, nuclear-armed missile that is capable…

The Air Force’s space budget is up by 8 percent, even though the service is cutting procurement of space systems by more than a billion dollars. WASHINGTON — The Trump administration’s budget request for the Defense Department includes $9.3 billion for space programs — $4.8 billion for satellites, $2.4 billion for launch vehicles and $2.1 billion for maintenance and support. The funds also cover space tests and classified programs. Officials said this budget marks a “pivot” in military space programs from systems that were built for an era when the…

WASHINGTON — The new president of Canadian space technology company MDA says he sees opportunities for growth both within the country and beyond, while maintaining the company’s Canadian roots as part of a larger, and increasingly American, company. Maxar Technologies announced earlier this month the appointment of Mike Greenley as group president of MDA, one of the four divisions of Maxar. Greenley formally started work at MDA Jan. 15. Greenley held positions at a variety of Canadian aerospace and defense companies prior to joining MDA. “Growing up as a Canadian…

Kris Osborn Security, Asia Should Kim be worried? F-35’s Could Someday Help Kill North Korea’s Nuclear Missiles Described as multi-function array technology, the DAS system uses automated computer algorithms to organize and integrate target-relevant data from missile warning systems, radar, night vision and other long-range sensors; the array is able to track a BMD target from the air at distances up to 800 nautical miles. Such a technology, quite naturally, enables a wider sensor field with which to identify and track attacking missiles. The F-35’s Distributed Aperture Sensor (DAS) has performed airborne…

WASHINGTON — SpaceNews established the Awards for Excellence & Innovation to honor the well-known champions and the unsung heroes shaping the global space industry. We endeavored to celebrate headline-grabbing breakthroughs as well as outside-the-limelight innovations. We made our selections after an open nomination process that concluded with a reader poll. The winners listed below were honored during an awards luncheon held Dec. 19 at the City Club of Washington. The luncheon was organized in partnership with the Washington Space Business Roundtable. A special thanks to Cobham for sponsoring this year’s SpaceNews awards.…

Kris Osborn Security, And this could make U.S. missile defenses even better. Get Ready, North Korea: F-35s Can Track Ballistic Missiles Described as multi-function array technology, the DAS system uses automated computer algorithms to organize and integrate target-relevant data from missile warning systems, radar, night vision and other long-range sensors; the array is able to track a BMD target from the air at distances up to 800 nautical miles. Such a technology, quite naturally, enables a wider sensor field with which to identify and track attacking missiles. The F-35’s Distributed Aperture Sensor…

DARPA’s Fred Kennedy: “Our savior is going to be the commercial sector.” WASHINGTON — The military space business is stuck in its old ways and missing a “golden opportunity” to capture the energy of a rejuvenated commercial industry, said a former White House space and aviation technology adviser who is now a top official at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. “In the national security space sector, we’re in dire need of new thinking and innovation,” said Fred Kennedy, director of DARPA’s tactical technology office. He assumed that post in September…